The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was established 40 years ago by the organization's namesake in New Jersey as a way to assist community members who were suffering at the hand of the Great Depression. It has since grown to become the largest community foundation that's primarily focused on public health concerns. Its most recent work includes a $1.9 million grant to create an open-participation research platform called PatientsLikeMe. 

This new system will attract individuals who can contribute valuable clinical data about disease management and personal experiences with various conditions. The 200,000 members who have already participated in PatientsLikeMe want to monitor their conditions, contribute to medical research and improve the outcomes of the 1,500 diseases they represent.

"This project is really exciting for us because it focuses on data that is developed by patients in the real world, where they spend most of their time, as opposed to controlled clinical settings," said Brian Quinn, director of the Pioneer Portfolio, a team within the foundation that's responsible for funding this project.

Because this is an open-participation research platform, users won't have to pay anything to access the information posted. 

Organizations that are looking to raise funds through grant opportunities or local campaigns can use nonprofit financial management solutions to improve their chances of success. The software can help program leaders identify potential donors and send out applications with accurate accounting information.